6/14/2006 4:42:00 PM
WASHINGTON, June 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Tomorrow, House Republicans will begin a debate on a resolution concerning the Iraq War. Instead of holding the Bush Administration accountable for their ineptitude and demanding a real strategy for victory in Iraq, Republicans are planning to use the debate as a way to score political points. With GOP Representatives' credibility faltering, new Republican Leader John Boehner is encouraging GOP members of Congress to attack their opponents, according to his secret communications memo.
Boehner's memo says that it's "imperative" that House Republicans erroneously link 9/11 to the war in Iraq. Boehner also urges them to argue that Democrats are "weak," "sheepish," "favor retreat" and "prone to waver." (Center for American Progress,
http://www.thinkprogress.org/confidential-boehner-memo )
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on the GOP's divisive playbook:
"Almost five years after 9/11, Osama bin Laden is still at large. At the same time, the President has allowed North Korea to become more dangerous and Iran is threatening to become a nuclear power. And the reality is that our troops and their families still have no strategy from this President to get the job done in Iraq and get them home. Americans simply can't trust Republicans to keep our country safe.
"Instead of engaging in a real debate about the war in Iraq, Republicans would prefer to engage in partisan attacks for political gain. The GOP's strategy of divide and distract won't help Congress with their oversight of the White House's inept Iraq policies, help formulate benchmarks for success or help bring our troops home once their mission is complete -- and the American people know it. The troops deserve more than a partisan political production.
"Democrats believe that 2006 must be a year of significant transition in Iraq. The President owes it to the American people to show real leadership."
http://democrats.org/a/2006/06/dean_on_gops_ir.php